andisnewsyncro wrote:Another great looking day out missed by yours truely
I had a mate years ago who had about 5 of those Sisley Pandas. They're cracking little things

I was smileing all the way till the fuel hose poped off mine...

Shame as weighing under 800kg they were pritty impressive - I've always thought weight kills the ability of alot of 4x4s, that and overly wide tyres, the Panda had neather and it showed - an impressive basic utility vehicle. Fuel consumption was very disapointing though, thought it'd be better than my Landy, much better, but at 28mpg it wasn't - that was up to 70mph on the motorway (the Land-Rover can do 30mpg at 55mph, and the Panda wasn't much quieter!)
I've always had a soft spot for diesels and this expereance didn't do petrols any favors in my view.
Just tried to find a picture of the army doing deep wadeing tests on a series Land-Rover when they were current - was powered by a 2.25 petrol aparently (their standard army power unit of course) that had been waterproofed, Only the hoodsticks, snorcle and unforchanate driver sticking above the water level - shows whats possable though its probubly harder to do now with all those sensors and ECUs, petrol or diesel! Hoped the photo was in one of the books I have but after a quick flick through I think it must have been in a mag - must take a scan if I ever find it as its not the first time I've wanted another look.